Electric engine cooling jacket heater



Jan. 12, 1965 L. E. WINDSOR ELECTRIC ENGINE coounc JACKET HEATER 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1961 a Z r 6 4 //V VE/V TOR. LY/V/VE EWl/VDSOR ELECTRIC ENGINE COOLING JACKET HEATER Filed June 26, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 2 fil/lf/l/fi 5 M 26? gg\ MZHB /5(////// 3e 36 4 x 40 26fig. 5

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ya/M Munoz United States Patent ELECTRIC ENGINE COOLING JACKET HEATERLynne E. Windsor, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, assignor to James B.Carter Ltd Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Filed June 26, 1961, Set. No.119,720 6 Claims. (Cl. 219-208) My invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in frost plug immersion heaters for automobile engines.

While it is realized that f-rost plug apertures provide the mostconvenient means for the insertion of immersion heaters into the coolantsystem of automobile engines, nevertheless considerable difficulty isencountered in locking said heaters into said frost plug apertures dueto the smooth bore thereof and inaccessibility of the inner wallsthereof.-

Normally a deformable gasket having a round or rectangular section isutilized to seal the immersion heater within the frost plug with somemechanical means incorporated to prevent the heater from inadvertentlybecoming displaced from the frost plug aperture.

However, such means are normally permanently deformable means whichprevents ready disengagement of the immersion heater from the frost plugaperture in the event of replacement.

I have overcome these disadvantages by providing an immersion heaterhaving end shiftable means upon the rear face thereof and meansextending through the body portion of the heater adapted to extend andretract these means thus providing a positive lock for the retention ofthe immersion heat-er within the frost plug aperture as well asproviding sealing means to prevent leakage of fluid therepast.

The principal object and essence of my invention is therefore to providea device of the character herewithin described in which the immersionheater is readily installed and locked into position, yet which at thesame time can be removed'if necessary for replacement purposes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which includes efficent sealing means between theimmersion heater and the frost plug aperture walls acting independentlyof the locking means. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which includes means to locate accurately theimmersion heater within the frost plug aperture prior to locking same.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which is particularly suitable for use with typicalU-sha-ped immersion heater elements.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described which is adaptable for use with themajority of present day automotive engines.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described which is simple in construction,economical in manufacture and otherwise well suited to the purpose forwhich it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects andadvantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to whichthis invention relates as this specification proceeds, my inventionconsists essentially in the arrangement and construction of part all ashereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view of the device shown in FIGURE 1 withthe cover shown in phantom;

FIGURE 3 is the rear side view of my device showing an alternativeembodiment.

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FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but showing a still furtherembodiment.

FIGURE 5 is a section substantially along the lines 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 5, but showing a stillfurther embodiment.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view similar to FIGURES 5 and 6, but showing yetanother embodiment of my device.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe my invention in detail, referenceshould first be made to FIGURES 1 and 2 which show the preferredembodiment of my device.

Reference character 10 shows a substantially cylindrical body portionhaving a shoulder 11 formed therearound and carrying a substantiallyconventional U- shaped immersion heater element 12 secured to the rearside 13 of the body portion and extending therethrough to terminate inconventional connector pins 14 by which means the device may beconnected to a source of electrical energy.

Situated across the rear face 13 of the body portion is an enlargement15, said enlargement carrying a transverse drilling 16 within which ismounted for endwise movement, a pair opposed pins 17.

The outer ends 18 of these pins are reduced indiameter thus formingshoulders 19 inboard thereof, and the ends 20 of the transversedrillings 16 are staked over or reduced in diameter thus permitting theends 18 of the pins to move endwise there'through, but restraining thepins from extending beyond the limits imposed by the shoulders 19.

' A resilient pug 21 is situated within the transverse drilling and isengaged by the inner ends 22 of the pins 17 and means collectivelydesignated 23 are provided to move the pins 17 endwise within thetransverse drillings 16.

Means 23 comprises a screw-threaded axially located drilling 24 formedthrough the body portion from the outer face 25 thereof and terminatingat the transverse drillings 16.

A screw-threaded bolt 26 engages the drilling 24 and the inner end 27 ofthe bolt bears against the aforementioned resilient plug 21.

An O-ring surrounds the body portion and the shoulder 11 and a cover 29is adapted to enclose the front face 25 of the body portion as shown inphantom in FIGURE 2.

This cover plate is bored out internally as at 30 and is provided withalocating pin or pins 31 within the bored out portion, said pinor pinsengaging a short drilling 32 or integral shoulders formed in the outerface 25 of the body portion.

A relatively rectangular aperture 33 is formed through the cover throughwhich the aforementioned connector pins 14 pass thus permitting aconventional plug to engage these pin-s when used.

The cover 29 is apertured centrally as at 34 to allow the outer end 35of bolt 26 to pass freely therethrough.

Ears or projections 36 are formed around the outer periphery of thecover portion and are adapted to engage the outer surface 37 of theengine block 38 surrounding the frost plug aperture 39 formed therein.

Finally, a lock-nut 40 engages the outer end 35 of the bolt 26, whichouter end is slotted as at 41 so that it can be engaged by a screwdriver or the like.

In operation, the bolt 26 is loosely mounted within the aperture 24whereupon the O-ring is placed against the shoulder 11 and the coverplate engaged over the portion 10 so that pin 31 engages aperture 32within the body portion.

The lock-nut 40 is lightly tightened to maintain the cover plate inposition whereupon the immersion heater is entered into the frost plugaperture 33 until the ears or shoulders 36 of the cover plate come upagainst the outer surface 37 of the block. With the immersed heater heldin this position, the bolt'26 is tightened within the drilling 24 sothat the end127 compresses the resilient plug 21 thus expanding samewithin the transverse drillaperture and providing an efficient seal,preventing coolant passing thereby.

If 'it'is desired to remove the device, the nut 49 is loosened and thebolt 26 withdrawn whereupon slight v manipulation of the immersionheater will cause the pins 17 to move inwardly against thenowdecompressed resilient plug 21 so that the heater can be withdrawn.

FIGURE 3 shows an alternative embodiment insofar as the movable elementsare concerned.

In this embodiment, I have provided a pair of sub stantially rectangularcam plates 42 pivoted together as at 43 by the ends 44 thereof and lyingupon the rear face 13 of the body portion 10. The slots 45 are providedwithin the plates and headed rivets or the like 46 extending from therear surface 13 of the body portion mounts the plates for movement in.the direction of arrows 47 upon the rear sides 13.

A spring 48 extends between the two portions and normally maintains theminwardly towards the center of the body portion;

The bolt 26 in this embodiment and also in the embodiment shown inFIGURES 4'and 5, is provided with a head 49 having cone-faced sides 50,said cone-faced sides engaging the edges 51 of the plates 42. Once again.when this bolt is drawn outwardly, the cone facings 50 force the platesoutwardly around the pivot point 43 and in the direction of arrows 47whereupon they act in a similar manner to pins 17. In this embodiment,of course, the spring 48 withdraws same upon release of the bolt 26 thusfacilitating removal.

FIGURES 4 and show a further embodiment which includes substantiallyrectangular plates 52 mounted for endwise movement upon headed rivets orpins 53 extending from the rear surface 13 of the body portion 10. Thebolt 26 is formed as hereinbefore described, for the embodiment inFIGURE 3 and operates in a similar manner. Once again spring 48 returnsthe plates towards center once the bolt is released thus facilitatingwithdrawal of the unit.

FIGURE 6 shows a further alternative in which the plates 54 inclineupwardly towards the center when viewed in side elevation and aremounted upon elongated headed rivets 55 extending from the rear side 13of the body portion 10.

In this embodiment the bolt 26 is headed as at 56 and compressionsprings 57 extend between the plates 54 and the surface 13 thus normallymaintaining the inner ends 58 upwardly against the shoulder 59 of thebolt head 56. If the bolt is drawn downwardly with respect to FIGURE 6,the plates 54 end outside move endwise in direction of arrows 60 and ashereinbefore described. Springs 57, of course, withdraw the plates oncethe bolt is released. In this embodiment I find it preferable to providea further O-ring 61 surrounding the bolt shank adjacent the innersurface 13 of the body portion and sitting within a recess 62 formedtherearound in order to' facilitate sealing of the device at this point.FIGURE 7 is an embodiment very similar to that s shown in FIGURE 6, butwithout the necessity of the springs 57.

In this embodiment, I form a collar 63 around the bolt just below thehead 56 and the ends 58 of the plates 54 engage between the collar andthe head so that they are moved endwise as the bolt is moved inwardly oroutwardly.

In all embodiments, the cover portion and O-ring sealing means areindependent of the actual locking means for maintaining the immersionheater within the frost plug aperture.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabovedescribed, and many apparently widely differing embodiments of same madewithin the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from suchspirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in theaccompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only andnot in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An immersion heater adapted to be installed within a frost plugaperture of an engine block, comprising in combination a substantiallycylindrical body portion, having a diameter slightly less than thediameter of said frost plug aperture whereby said body portion isinsertable within said frost plug aperture, an immersion heater elementsecured to and extending from one side of said body portion, electricalconnecting pins secured to said immersion heater element and extendingthrough said body portion to the other side thereof and beingconnectable to a source of electrical energy, endwise movable meansmounted transversely in said body portion "adjacent said one sidethereof, selectively engageable with the inner surface of the blocksurrounding said frost plug aperture, said endwise movable meanscomprising at least two pins mounted for endwise radial movement intransverse drillings situated diametrically across said body portionadjacent said one side thereof, a centrally located screw threadeddrilling extending axially from the other side of said body portion andintercepting said transverse drilling, a resilient plug between theinner adjacent ends of said pins at the base of said centrally locatedscrew threaded drilling, a screw threaded bolt engaging said screwthreaded drilling from said other side of said body portion, the innerend of said bolt engaging said resilient plug' whereby pressure fromsaid bolt on said plug expands same into said transverse drillingsthereby moving said pins outwardly therefrom, resilient sealing meanscarried by said body portion enga'geable with the wall of saidfrost plugaperture, a cover plate detachably connected to said body portion, meansextending from said cover plate engageable with the outer surface ofsaid engine block surrounding said frost plug aperture, an adjustableclamp means for connecting said cover plate to said body portion toclamp said body portion into sealing engagement with said frost plugaperture.

- 2. The device according to claim 1 which includes a seating formedaround the wall of said body portion and intermediate the ends thereof,said resilient sealing means comprising a resilient sealing ring on saidseating, said cover plate having an inner end insertable in said frostplug aperture, the inner end of said cover plate engaging said resilientsealing ring, said means on said 3. The device according to claim 2 inwhich said screw threaded bolt passes through an aperture in said coverplate, said clamp means comprising a nut engaging said .screw threadedbolt externally of said cover plate, to

tighten said cover plate to said bodyportion and to compress saidresilient sealing means.

'4.'The device according to claim 1 in which said pins :are reduced indiameter at the outer ends thereof thereby forming retaining shoulders,the ends of said transverse drillings being reduced in diameter therebylimiting the 7 References Cited by the Examiner outward endwise movementof said pins. UNITED STATES PATENTS 5. The device according to claim 21n whlch sa1d pins are reduced in diameter at the outer ends thereofthereby 2,783,352 2/ 5 7 McKay 219-336 forming retaining shoulders, theends of said transverse 5 2905301 9/59 Bleckmann 219-526 drillings beingreduced in diameter thereby limiting the 2987283 6/61 Bleckmann 248 56outward endwise movement of said pins. FOREIGN PATENTS 6. The deviceaccording to claim 3 in which said pins 475,630 11/37 Great Britain.

are reduced in diameter at the outer ends thereof thereby 1,231,508, 4/60 Rama forming retaining shoulders, the ends of said transverse 10drillings being reduced in diameter thereby limiting the RICHARD WOODPnmary Examiner outward endwise movement of said pins. MAX L. LEVY,Examiner.

1. AN IMMERSION HEATER ADAPTED TO BE INSTALLED WITHIN A FROST PLUGAPERTURE OF AN ENGINE BLOCK, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A SUBSTANTIALLYCYLINDRICAL BODY PORTION HAVING A DIAMETER SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THEDIAMETER OF SAID FROST PLUG APERTURE WHEREBY SAID BODY PORTION ISINSERTABLE WITHIN SAID FROST PLUG APERTURE, AN IMMERSION HEATER ELEMENTSECURED TO AND EXTENDING FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID BODY PORTION, ELECTRICALCONNECTING PINS SECURED TO SAID IMMERSION HEATER ELEMENT AND EXTENDINGTHROUGH SAID BODY PORTION TO THE OTHER SIDE THEREOF AND BEINGCONNECTABLE TO A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY, ENDWISE MOVABLE MEANSMOUNTED TRANSVERSELY IN SAID BODY PORTION ADJACENT SAID ONE SIDETHEREOF, SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF THE BLOCKSURROUNDING SAID FROST PLUG APERTURE, SAID ENDWISE MOVABLE MEANSCOMPRISING AT LEAST TWO PINS MOUNTED FOR ENDWISE RADIAL MOVEMENT INTRANSVERSE DRILLING SITUATED DIAMETRICALLY ACROSS SAID BODY PORTIONADJACENT SAID ONE SIDE THEREOF, A CENTRALLY LOCATED SCREW THREADEDDRILLING EXTENDING AXIALLY FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID BODY PORTION ANDINTERCEPTING SAID TRANSVERSE DRILLING, A RESILINET PLUG BETWEEN THEINNER ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID PINS AT THE BASE OF CENTRALLY LOCATED SCREWTHREADED DRILLING, A SCREW THREADED